Ruben Vargas sends Switzerland to the World Cup quarterfinals with shootout win over Colombia

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — In a match with few fireworks, the Swiss were patient against the Colombians and their enthusiastic fans.

After a scoreless draw, Ruben Vargas converted the decisive penalty and Switzerland advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals, beating Colombia 4-3 in a shootout on Tuesday.

Switzerland will face defending champion Argentina on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 earlier in the day.

Switzerland had not reached the quarterfinals of a World Cup since hosting the tournament in 1954. And the Swiss were short-handed Tuesday without young midfielder Johan Manzambi, who was injured in training on Monday.

Vargas, who has scored two goals in the World Cup, also left Monday’s training early but came on in stoppage time at the end of regulation.

In the shootout, Colombia defender Davinson Sánchez's penalty attempt hit the crossbar and Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel saved an attempt by Cucho Hernández.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a Swiss citizen, was among those at BC Place, where the sellout crowd of 52,497 was overwhelmingly clad in yellow in support of Colombia.

“They had the crowd on their side, so it was a tough game for us,” Kobel said. “We know we had some stretches of the game where we had to defend and stay strong mentally. Obviously we had a few players missing so, yeah, it was a big challenge for us.”

Colombia failed to qualify for the last World Cup in 2022. Los Cafeteros made the quarterfinals at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, defeating Uruguay in the round of 16 before losing to the host country 2-1.

“The dream was enormous,” Colombia midfielder Jhon Arias said. “The country showed us that it believed in us, that it lived every moment with us, and I think that only makes the pain even greater.”

The Swiss reached the round of 16 at the past three World Cups but failed to advance with a smaller field of 32 teams.

“We worked very hard, and now we have this opportunity,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. “This is going to be a very interesting matchup from our point of view. We will try to compete against the reigning champions and it’s going to be amazing. Switzerland against Argentina in a quarterfinal. I am so excited. I think that I need maybe a couple of hours more or another day to process what just happened, and then tomorrow we will start focusing on Argentina.”

The match was tightly contested by two teams with contrasting styles, the Swiss with a more organized and methodical approach and Colombia more attack-oriented and physical. Switzerland had a slight edge in possession.

Manzambi, a 20-year-old midfielder who plays for German club Freiburg, has three goals in the World Cup, becoming one of the tournament’s breakout stars. The Swiss were also without Luca Jaquez and midfielder Michel Aebischer.

Gustavo Puerta had the first good chance for Colombia with a shot from distance in the 21st minute that was pushed away by Kobel.

The Swiss got one of their best opportunities in the 30th with Fabian Rieder’s blast at goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, who punched the ball down. Minutes later, Vargas smothered another attempt from Dan Ndoye.

The Swiss had a free kick in the 52nd minute, but Rieder’s attempt curled around the wall and went into the side netting.

In the first extra time period, Jhon Lucumi’s header hit the crossbar and caromed away as Colombia put pressure on Kobel.

“I don’t think you can overstate what a huge success this is — for us, for this team, for Switzerland, for such a small country. To be among the top eight teams in the world is incredible,” Kobel said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’m incredibly proud.”

Colombia and Switzerland also met in the group stage at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, with Los Cafeteros winning 2-0.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (1) blocks a penalty shot by Colombia's Cucho Hernandez in a shootout during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Switzerland's Ruben Vargas, left, celebrates with teammates after making the winning kick in a penalty shootout in the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colombian players lie dejected after losing penalty shootout during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Switzerland's Ruben Vargas (17) celebrates after making the winning kick in a penalty shootout during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Switzerland players celebrate after defeating Colombia in a penalty shootout in the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

Switzerland's Ruben Vargas (17) celebrates after making the winning kick in a penalty shootout in the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colombia's Luis Suárez, left, and Switzerland's Nico Elvedi battle for the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Switzerland's Granit Xhaka, center, tries to get past Colombia's James Rodríguez, left, and Jefferson Lerma during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Colombia's Luis Suarez (25) tumbles while fighting for the ball with Switzerland's Breel Embolo during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colombia's Luis Diaz (7) attempts a bicycle kick against Switzerland's Denis Zakaria (6) and Remo Freuler (8) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Colombia's Luis Suárez, left, and Switzerland's Nico Elvedi battle for the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Mired in an uncomfortable slump that uncomfortably shortened their lead in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays were desperate for a victory.

As he had done for much of the season, 36-year-old Nick Martinez delivered.

Martinez retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced Sunday, and the Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 to avert a three-game sweep.

After losing three straight and seven of nine, Tampa Bay turned to the crafty right-hander to end the skid. Martinez and former Rays starter Shane Baz traded zeros until Tampa Bay broke it open with a three-run sixth.

“We needed a big start, obviously, and Nick provided that,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

It's been that way for much of the season. Signed as a free agent in February, Martinez (13-4) has been a steadying force for the Rays. Tampa Bay is 7-1 after a loss when Martinez starts, and few of those wins were bigger than this one.

“Hopefully, it creates some momentum for us going forward,” said Martinez, whose only mistake over six innings was yielding a third-inning double to Colton Cowser.

His fifth scoreless outing of the season came after he yielded six runs over 3 2/3 innings in a loss against Toronto on Aug. 18.

“There's no real correlation between starts,” Martinez insisted. “You have to have that mentality after some outings not to let it snowball. I was able to do that today, and hopefully get us going in the right direction.”

There was no margin for error in this one, because Baz was mowing down the Rays for five innings. Then, after Tampa Bay broke through in the top of the sixth, Martinez knew he had to ring up another scoreless inning to keep the lead intact.

“I was focusing on throwing up a zero right there after you see the team put together a good inning,” Martinez said. “I was able to do that.”

Martinez has won a career-high four straight road starts. Now the Rays head to Detroit to try to build back up a lead over New York that has shrunk from 6 1/2 games on Aug. 15 to just three games on Sunday night.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez delivers against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez delivers against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero (13) slides into home plate to score as Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo, left, tags in the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cam Booser throws against the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)